Developing apparatus for photographic plates



Patented Jan. 16, 1923.`

UNITED STATES JESSE VJ. STRANGE, F BLANCHARD, IDAHO.

DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATES.

Application filed February 2, 1921.

To all 'Lo/Lam t may concern.'

Be it known that I, (Inner Vf. STRANGE, a citizen of the United Staf i.; ref'siding at Blanchard,I in the county of Ywanner and State of Idaho, have invented a new and useful Developing Apparatus for Photo- `iraphic ilatcf-z. of wlirh the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in developing photographic plates. one of its objects being to provide a simple and compact structure in which the plates can be placed readily after exposure and wherein they can be given a bath iu developing fluid without being exposed to light rays.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings l `igure 't is a vertical longitudinal section throi'igh the device, a plate holder being shown in position therein in elevation.

Figure 2 is a plan view.

Figure 3 is a section on line nrc 1.

.Figure i is a section on line 4L-4L, Figure 1,

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a casing of any desired proportions and open at the top, the various joints of the easing being made lightsproof, preferably by means of some improved connections such shown at 2. The bottoni of the casing may be provided with supporting knobs while arranged tiansverseliV within the casing `near one end is a partition 4 slightly inclined. a s shown in l `igure l and provided with an opening 5 the area of which is greater than that of the plate to be developed. Between this partition 4. and one end of the casing l. is a follower or backing strip 6 held normally pressed toward the partition by bow strings i' the intermediate portions of which are attached to the end wall of the casing 1 while the end portions engage the strip 6. This follower strip works between guide strips 8 Serial No. 441,887.

arranged on the partition i and extending toward the adjacent end of the casing 1, the space between the partition and the follower strip and between the guide strips 8 being designed to receive a plate holder such as indicated generally at Il andv which holder can be of the usual construction.

The casing 1 is provided with a removable lid or cover 9 having a depending guard rib 10 adapted to fit into the space between the partition 4 and the far end of the casing 1 and to bear against said partition and the sides and said end wall of thel casing. Fur... thermore felt or other soft material indicated at 11 can be interposed between the lid or cover and the walls and partition of the casmg. position by any suitable means, such as spring clips 12 hingedly connected to the walls of the casing and having engagement with lugs 13 upon the cover.

An opening 14 is formed in the cover and secured to the walls of this opening isa flexible closure 15 formed preferably of a light-proof fabric which normally hangs within the casing 1 and has its lower end portion normally closed by a band 16 of elastic or the like. A lid 17 may be hingedly mounted on the cover 9 so as normally to extend over the fabric 15 and the opening 14;, this lid being fastened by means of a spring catch 1S shown.

lVhen it .is desired to develop a plate the holder H containing the plate inserted through a slot 21 formed in the rover 9. This holder will thus enter between the partition 4 and the follower strip and the said follower' will press the holder lirmly against the partition 4; as shown in Figure 1. llVith the holder thus in place the shutter therein nearest the opening 5 and which has been indicated at S can be removed whcrcupon the plato nearest the opening and which has been illustrated at l, will be vfree io swing` forwardly and downwardly through the opening VBefore this action is taken, however. one hand of the user is inserted downwardly through the open lower end of the fabric closure 15 after raising the lid 17 so that the band will thus be in position to engage the plate as it tilts downwardly from the holder. The plate is then grasped and placed in the necessary baths which canv be located in the structure and after it has been developed is removed therefrom.

This cover 9 may be fastened in"` It will be obvious that by providing a structure such as herein described it is possible to quickly and elliciently' develop plates without requiring a dark room.

What is claimed is l. Developing apparatus including a casing, a par'tition extending rtransversely thereof and having an opening therein, a cover upon the casing having a slot for the reception of a plate holder, a follower within the casing for pressing a plate holder' against the partition, said Pfollower and partition cooperating to support the holder in an inclined position to release a plate by gravity whena shutter is withdrawn from the holder, a flexible hand receiving portion depending from the top of the casing and having a normally closed inner end portion, and means within the casing for holding a developing fluid.

2. Apparatus of the Class described including a casing, an inclined partition therein provided with an opening, a spring pressed follower adjacent the partition, a cover detachably secured upon the casing @and having an opening above the space at one side or' the partition and a slot above the space at the other side of the partition, .Said slot constituting means for receiving a plate holder insertible into the casing between the partition and follower, a lightproof 4flexible fabric secured within the opening in the cover, elastic means for holding said flexible closure normally gathered adjacent its lower end said closure being adapted vto expand to receive the hands or the user when inserted intorthe easing, and a lid mounted on the cover and extending over said ,opening and the flexible closure suspended therein.

3. A developing apparatus including a casing, a cover thereon having a spaced opening and transverse slots, a lid normally closing said opening, a flexible closure secured to the walls of the opening and extending downwardly into the casing, elastic means for holding the lower end portion oi the flexible closure normally gathered, said lower' end portion being expansible by the insertion oi' a hand into the casing, an inclined partition extending transi/'ersely within the casing between the slot and opening, said slot constituting means for guiding a plate holder into position back oi' the partition, a spring pressed follower i'or engaging an inserted holder to press it against the partition and hold it in inclined position, said partition having an opening therein for the reception of a plate released by the withdrawal of a shutter from the holder, and a tray within the casing and below the flexible closure.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JESSE W7. STRANGE. Witnesses:

FIELDEN L. POIRIER, MELvIN J. SInBnNfri-IALN. 

